The diaphragm is the primary muscle used in respiration, which is the process of breathing. This dome-shaped muscle is located just below the lungs and heart. It contracts continually as you breathe ...

Lung volume, a clinical indicator of lung growth and function, is commonly quantified using pulmonary function tests (PFTs) such as spirometry and body plethysmography which measure lung volumes, ...

Diaphragm flutter — also known as diaphragmatic flutter or diaphragmatic myoclonus — is a rare disorder in which your diaphragm experiences repeated involuntary contractions. The diaphragm is a muscle ...

The phrenic nerve controls the diaphragm, the dome-shaped muscle that is primarily responsible for breathing. Contraction of the diaphragm expands the lungs and draws air into them. The phrenic nerve ...

Diaphragm spasms feel like twitches in the area between the chest and the abdomen. They can occur with or without pain. Possible causes include an injury, nerve irritation, or a rare condition known ...

Your diaphragm is a thin muscle that separates your chest and abdomen. When you inhale, your diaphragm tightens and expands your chest cavity. A paralyzed diaphragm doesn’t tighten as it should when ...

Paradoxical breathing is often a sign of breathing problems. Paradoxical breathing causes the chest to contract during inhaling and to expand during exhaling. This is the opposite of how it should ...